THE HUMOUROUS SIDE OF TELEGRAPHY.
Were one to collect despatches which pass over the telegraph line, says a practical manager of a great telegraphic system, they would make a curious volume of correspondence. The cost of the transmission of a message depending upon the number of words it contains of course renders its construction as brief as possible. Most despatches contain less than a dozen words (together with an address and signature), and it is marvellous how much matter this small number of words often contains.
A lady, who wanted to ascertain when her husband would return home, sent him a message making the enquiry. He replied that a serious matter hindered him, and that he would not be able to return for some days.
The lady immediately replied by sending another message in the following laconic manner:—"Home. 12 September, 1903; To F.C.P. Message received. Deuteronomy xxiv., 5."—Mary.
Having turned to the specified verse in the Word, the addressee read the following long epistle:—
"When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business; but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken."
A second specimen is a reply sent to a man who had committed an offence against the law and had absconded. He wanted to find out whether it would be prudent to return. He therefore telegraphed in the following style:—
"1 October, 1903; To B.C.M. Is all O.K.?"—D.T.M.
And he received the following brief reply:—
"To D.T.M. 1 October, 1903. Proverbs xxvii., 12."—B.C.M.
Having turned to the verse mentioned, the enquirer received good counsel:—
"A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on and are punished."
Kiel marŝas la Lapoj? Ne kapo malsupre, mi pensas? Ne, ili piediras per la plando sur Laplando (plando, sole of the foot).
E.L.
Maljuna Soldato: Ĉu vi deziras esti heroo, knabeto?
Knabeto: Ne dankon! Mi ne deziras havi nur unu brakon kaj okulon artefaritan!
G.C.L.
BONVENO.
Gazeto Angla Esperanta, iru
Antaŭen en la mondon, kunhelponte
Kolegojn viajn ĉiam sendi vortojn
De amikeco kies sono dolĉa
Eniru en la korojn de la homoj
Kaj ligon sanktan de frataro fari.
No. 8380.